BESTSELLER, VERO MODA

Aarhus, Denmark

CAREFUL USE OF DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Chairs as symbols - individual brands in the same building. Warmth, quality and space for different types of meetings have turned clothing company Bestseller's new office building into an exemplary representation of how the careful use of design and craftsmanship can do much more than just create beautiful rooms.

“An expressive company” is what Bestseller calls itself. The clothing company owns several modern brands, and this is reflected in C.F. Møller’s architecture, which comprises five different buildings tied together via a series of outdoor areas, courtyards, terraces and roof gardens. The consistent feature throughout the buildings is the feeling of warmth from the aesthetic look – different designs, but with the same consistent quality of craftsmanship designed for people. The mix of office buildings and outdoor spaces give an impression of being in a city within a city. The complex, which is surrounded by canals and lakes on all four sides, forms the entrance to a new urban area on the waterfront in Aarhus, Denmark. It covers a total of 21.500 m2 and 800 workplaces, in addition to showrooms, an auditorium, video and film studios, a large canteen, and facilities that can accommodate both large meetings and fashion shows.

Views of the sky and water are visible from many areas in the building. The facades have been designed based on two principles: The north and south facades are covered in carvings of light natural stone that frame deep window niches. In contrast, the east and west facades are simple, transparent glass facades with natural stone.

There is a noticeable warmth that penetrates the indoor experience. All facilities that have been created for meetings between people have been carefully aligned to the function of each area. The company’s strong aesthetic values clearly shine through here. The auditorium has been built with podiums, where the Series 7™ chair stands as a modern interpretation of the traditional lecture theatre. Mounted on a pedestal the chair stands lightly, almost hovering, row after row with the front facing the presenter, adding a strong organic feel to the sharply cut construction and providing space for placing people in the centre of the experience.

A different chair is used in the canteen, almost as a metaphor for the unique look. Here it is the Grand Prix™ chair, the edges of which form a sharp contrast to a ceiling full of organically shaped paper lamps. The quality here is unmistakable, and even though the chair resembles the Series 7™ chair in style, the canteen is a great example of how the slightest change can sometimes give a room new character.